A family firm operating for more than 100 years has closed - a victim of big business.

Garage parts supplier Thomas Dyson opened in 1896 as a car and cycle manufacturer and parts distributor, changing to the garage trade in 1934.

For owner Steve Crossley-Smith, whose family has run the business since 1907, winding down the company has been a painful, but necessary, process.

Based in Brearton Street, Manningham since 1934, the firm has supplied garage workshops in the district with nuts, bolts, drills and number plates for 67 years.

As retirement age approached Mr Crossley-Smith and his wife, Pat, who worked as the firm's accountant, hoped to sell the business as a going concern, but failed to attract any serious offers.

Mr Crossley-Smith, 66, was in philosophical mood: "After that number of years in the family it is a bit of a wrench, but you can't carry on working forever," he said.

"I would have preferred to have sold it on to somebody but there doesn't seem to be a market for our kind of family-run, smaller company any more.

"My two sons have made their own careers in other lines, and I couldn't see it expanding enough to satisfy their needs."

Thomas Dyson (Motor Factors) Ltd began life in Park Road, Bradford, back in 1896 as a car and cycle manufacturer and parts distributor, changing to the garage trade in 1934.

Mr Crossley-Smith took over from his father back in 1976, and has since built up close relationships with many of his clients.

A long-standing and active member of Addingham Parish Council, he now plans to keep busy with Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club, and might even dust off his golf clubs for a few rounds.

"There's still a fair bit of tidying up to do," he said. "But it is a relief in many ways to be winding down. I'm looking forward to not doing much of anything!"

The company, whose four other staff have taken redundancy, has received dozens of letters from customers of up to 30 years standing, thanking it for a personal, and efficient, service.